Geomorphology of the northwestern Kurdistan Region of Iraq: landscapes of the Zagros Mountains drained by the Tigris and Great Zab Rivers

Title

Geomorphology of the northwestern Kurdistan Region of Iraq: landscapes of the Zagros Mountains drained by the Tigris and Great Zab Rivers

Creator(s)

Forti, Luca

Perego, Alessandro

Brandolini, Filippo

Mariani, Guido S.

Zebari, Mjahid

Nicoll, Kathleen

Regattieri, Eleonora

Barbaro, Cecilia Conati

Bonacossi, Daniele Morandi

Qasim, Hasan Ahmed

Cremaschi, Mauro

Zerboni, Andrea

Date

2021

Is Part Of

Journal of Maps

Volume

17

Issue

2

Pages

225-236

Language

eng

Short Title

Geomorphology of the northwestern Kurdistan Region of Iraq

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2021.1906339

Zotero BiDiAr

https://www.zotero.org/groups/5293298/bidiar/items/3V5MHMWT/item-list

Abstract

We present the geomorphological map of the northwestern part of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where the landscape expresses the tectonic activity associated with the Arabia-Eurasia convergence and Neogene climate change. These processes influenced the evolution of landforms and fluvial pathways, where major rivers Tigris, Khabur, and Great Zab incise the landscape of Northeastern Mesopotamia Anticlinal ridges and syncline trough compose the Zagros orogen. The development of water and wind gaps, slope, and karsts processes in the highlands and the tilting of fluvial terraces in the flat areas are the main evidence of the relationship between tectonics, climate variations and geomorphological processes. During the Quaternary, especially after the Last Glacial Maximum, fluctuating arid and wet periods also influenced local landforms and fluvial patterns of the area. Finally, the intensified Holocene human occupation and agricultural activities during the passage to more complex societies over time impacted the evolution of the landscape in this part of Mesopotamia.